Letting happiness find me

I've been thinking about happiness lately. Questions abound.

What is it?

How do you find it?

How do you keep it?

Recently, I've thought more about happiness than usual. Finding happiness and keeping happiness seem harder than ever.

I certainly don't have all the answers to what happiness means, how to find it, and how to keep it, but I know I want to be happy.

There are books and books and websites on happiness. I've read some but I've thought more.

Here's what I think I know.

Happiness comes not from accumulating things but from developing relationships.

Happiness comes not from being somebody but from helping someone else up.

Happiness is not an end in itself but a result of being involved in something meaningful beyond yourself.

Happiness does not mean that you don't hurt or grieve or suffer.

Happiness comes because you care about making the world a better place.

School superintendents are supposed to be focused on outcomes and test results and curriculum and budgets. I focus on those. I recognize that those are important.

But, more importantly, I want to focus on serving my family, my school district, my students, my staff, and my community. If I do that  - happiness will find me.